NAGPUR: Union minister Nitin Gadkari has suggested that urine banks be set up in every tehsil/taluka place so that urea can be produced and given to farmers to be used as fertilizer. This will be a step towards minimizing urea import, he feels.

Speaking to TOI on Monday, Gadkari said that though the idea is at a very preliminary stage, he is trying to make it areality by working with some Swedish scientists.

“Human urine contains a lot of nitrogen. But this is wasted. Since converting waste into wealth is my passion, I feel there is no harm in trying the idea. We already have organic substitutes for phosphorous and potassium. If we could add nitrogen, it could make an ideal plant booster,” he said.

Gadkari said thatfarmers+
will be expected to collect the urine in 10-litre plastic cans and bring it to taluka centres. “The cans will have to be provided by the government and the farmer would get Rs 1 per litre. The trial can be done in rural areas because here the urine is not diluted with water in the toilet. The urine will then be distilled to make it pure so that it can act as a soluble organic fertilizer,” he said.

The minister admitted that he is not sure of the economics and the feasibility of the project. He said that initial tests will be carried out at a laboratory in Dhapewada village — his home village — near Nagpur.